EAWR students show off grant results

Program fosters respect

WOOD RIVER — Students got a chance to show off the results of a new program aimed at fostering respect among teachers and students at East Alton-Wood River High School at Tuesday’s school board meeting.

The Every Action & Word=Respect program is part of the “Conversations Toward a Brighter Future” program last year at the Mannie Jackson Center for the Humanities.

The students, all members of the school’s student council, submitted a proposal for the program, and received a $4,000 grant after it was among those accepted.

“I think it’s a great thing for our school, and a great experience as well,” Principal Leigh Robinson said Wednesday.

The program kicked off this week with “Donut Disrespect (Do not Disrespect)” Tuesday, which featured breakfast in the form of 60 dozen donuts for students.

It continues through the rest of the week with a number of activities focused on dignity, understanding and forgiveness.

The program will also include “respect cards.” Students can nominate other students for “acts of respect” and twice a month there will be a drawing with winners receiving a T-shirt. The school will then hold designated days where those students will wear the shirts.

The program will also use social media to promote the program.

The students who put together the program were seniors Brenden Allen and MacKenzie Munn, junior Rachel Staten and sophomores Kate Booten, Trenton Darr and Shawn McKee.

“I think any time students are taking initiative for the betterment of the school, that’s a positive action,” said Robinson. “The students have worked really hard. They have taken the initiative to be the leaders on this project.”